Terminal connecting tool with terminal distorting projection



May 27, 1958 K. L. WELLS 2,836,088

TERMINAL CONNECTING TOOL WITH TERMINAL WITH DISTORTING PROJECTION Filed Jan. 11, 1954 INVENTOR. i 8 Ken 2 2k L. W8//S AT ORNEV nexed hereto.

United States Patent Gfifice Z,836,ii88 Patented May 27, 1958 CONNECTING TQGL WITH TERIWINAL DISTDRTING PRDJECTIGN This invention is directed to electrical terminals and means for attaching or swaging them to conductor wires.

A significant object of the invention is to provide an improved connection between a terminal and a conductor and method for establishing such connection.

An important object of the invention is to provide for i. this purpose a tool embodying improved principles of design and construction and which, among other things, includes a pair of pivotally connected levers, a pair of jaw members carried by one lever in a manner whereby they can be forced together by manipulating the other lever which is adapted to engage one of the jaw members, and projection means for distorting a portion of a terminal onto the end of a conductor when the two are being forcibly clamped together by the jaws.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a subassembly which, among other things, includes the jaw members above referred to, and a support with fastening means extending through the support and jaw members for securing the members for movement with respect to one another and the support. This sub-assembly is adapted for detachable connection with any component of a force producing means, such as one of the levers alluded to above.

A specific object of the invention is to provide one of the jaw members with an opening and the support with the projecting means for entry into the opening for distorting a portion of the terminal.

Another object of the invention is to provide the subassembly with pin means extending through the support and jaw members to assist in locating and holding the members and support in a stacked or superimposed relationship, and with resilient means connected to the pin means and engaging the support and jaw member adjacent thereto for resiliently supporting the members and cushioning the clamping action exerted by the jaws and the distortion of the terminal by the projection means.

7 An additional object of the invention is to provide one of the jaw members with a handle to faciiitate opening of the jaws to permit entry and seating of a terminal therebetween.

A further object of the invention is to provide a subassembly of the character described above, which includes additional resilient means in the form of a spring secured by the fastening means against the jaw member having a handle thereon for normally resiliently holding the jaws 0 together in a manner to assist in retaining a terminal between the jaws prior to manipulating the levers.

f A still further object of the invention is to provide a tool which is of simple design and construction, sturdy and positive and efiicient in action, and which offers ad vantages with respect to manufacture and assembly and use.

Many other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent after the description hereinafter set a c Q v forth 1s considered in con unction with the drawings an- In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top view of the tool;

Figure 2 is a side view in elevation of the tool showing the levers in a position to tilt and force the jaw members together;

Figure 3 is a partial side view of the tool showing the jaw members in an open condition to receive a terminal;

Figure 4 is an exploded view of certain of the components of the tool to exemplify details thereof;

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken through the jaws with a terminal in section disposed between the jaws;

Figure 6 shows perspective views of a portion of a conductor wire and the terminal which is adapted for attachment to the wire;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the conductor wire and terminal showing certain details with respect to the connection established therebetween; and

Figure 8 is a transverse section taken through the structure of Figure 7 illustrating other details of the connection.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 through 4 of the drawing, the tool, which is adapted to be held in and manipulated by hand, comprises, among other 1hings, a pair of pressure applying members preferably in the form of two levers generally designated 1 and 2 which are pivotally connected together by a pivot 3; a support t carried by the lever 1 which serves as a mounting; projection means 5 carried by the support; a pair of complementary jaw members 6 and 7 secured to the support by fastening means 8 in a manner whereby the jaw members may be moved with respect to one another and to the support; locating means 9 for the jaw members; resilient means 10 interposed between the support and jaw members; and additional resilient means in the form of a spring 11 secured in superimposed relationship to the jaw member 6 by the fastening means 8.

Although the pressure applying members are preferably made in the form of levers as illustrated, it is to be understood that the support 4, jaw members and other components directly associated therewith constituting a sub-assembly, might be secured to any suitable mounting means which may be stationary and that any additional means suitable for the purpose may be employed to effect movement of the jaws for clamping and afiixing a terminal onto a conductor wire.

However, as exemplified in the drawing, the lever 1 constitutes the mounting means for the sub-assembly. This lever may be formed in various ways but is preferably made of metal bar stock and the same is true of the lever 2. The levers are rigid and of a sufiicient size and length for convenience in handling. The forward end of lever 1 is preferably angled as indicated at 12 and is provided with a bifurcation with one end of the lever 2 disposed therein for guiding the lever 2 with respect to the lever 1. The inner longitudinal edge of the lever 2 is preferably interrupted by a circular notch 13 located in relatively close proximity to the pivot 3, the purpose of which will be described in detail subsequently.

The support 4, preferably in the form of an elongated plate, is detachably secured against the upper surface of the lever 1 by means of'a pair of screws 14 which extend through holes provided therefor in the lever and connect with threaded holes 15 provided in the support, as clearly illustrated, particularly in Figures 3 and 4. The forward end of the support is provided with the projection means 5 which is preferably made in the form of a cylindrical element having a pointed end 16 thereon. The element is preferably, permanently secured within a hole provided therefor in the support and as shown e in Figures 2 and 3, the element is of a length to extend through the support with its butt end bearing against A "the upper surface of the lever 1 sothat the latter will receive some of the pressure from the element as well it as the support whenthe tool is operated to; secure a terminal to a conductor. v p

The jaw member '6 and 7 are elongated and of sub s'ta'ntially the same length and, as clearly shown, the fastening means 8,.preferably in the form of a rivet,

The rivet includes a head which bears against'the upper Surface of the lever 1' and its free end is upset to more or less loo'sely secure the jaw members and spring to the'support 4 so that'the aw members may" move in the manner describedabove.

The rivet oifers'a -means whereby any of the parts held thereby can be readily replaced A tubular part or spacer washer 17 surroundsthei rivet '8 and is intei'po'sed'between the support and the lower jaw member-7.; The locating means 9 is preferably made in 'the form of .a -long cylindrical pin which extends through and is anchored to the lower jaw member 7 with its upper extremity extending through holes provided therefor in' the upper jaw member 6 and the spring 11 and so that its lower'ext'remity extends through holes provided therefor in the resilient means it) and'the support 4 and into;a.'relatively large recess 18 provided in the lever 1 to provide clearance for the pin when the tool is operated in accord with Figures 2' and 3. The

resilient means it is preferably made in the form of a piece oftubular rubber. The resilient means and the washer 17 serve to maintain the jaws in a predetermined spaced relationship, with respect to the. support. The resilient means functions to cushion movement of the levers, jaw members and distortion of a portion of the terminalby the pin 5. a 1 7 V p The foremost ends of the members'fi and 7 are providedwith a pair of complementaryjaws and, as clearly exemplified in the drawing, the jaw of the lower memher 7 is shaped to provide a pair of transverse land portions i9'with a channel portion therebetween. The channel is preferably provided with around opening 21 extending transversely therethrough for receivingthe pin Q 5 as depicted in Figure 2.

The upper" member 6 is preferably formed with a 7 pair of transverse corrugations, the crests of which co n-' stitutea pair of corresponding parallel bearing portions 22 which, in combination with the land portions 19,

y it will be? noted that the upper jaw also'includes'a channel portion-23which extends through a hole in the rear end of the support V f and: also through holes provided. therefor in the jaw members and the springll.

' tion with the corrugation a seat for the the wire. The'formation of the bridge portion serves to provide an opening 29' which extends transversely through the corrugation 25. When the terminal is in serted between the jaws, the edge portions 26 of the 'tab will rest upon the lands 19 and engage thebearing portions 22 of the upper jaw, and the corrugation 25 of the lower jaw and the bridge 23 will be respectively-dim posed in the channels 23' and 20 of. the jaws. Attention is directed to the fact that the jaw. on the lower memher 7 is provided with shoulders. or abutments adjacent the lands so that the t ertninaljwill beconfined V and not spread apart or become abnormally distorted during the process of securing a terminal onto the Wire. To effect the connection between the terminal and wire it is only necessary to hold the lower lever in one a hand, raise the upper lever and then open the jaws by depressing the handle 24 so that a terminal maybe 7 inserted between the jaw members sand-7' as illustrated in Figure 5, after which the handle is released so that the spring 11 will pres's the upper jaw against the lower jar to hold the 'terminal'in place. The bare end of a conductor wire is their inserted into the 'seator seats formed by the corrugation or bridge, whereupon the lever 2 is manipulated to cause, such lever to engage the u per, jaw member 6 in a manner whereby the pointed end;

16 of the projection means willtrnove upwardly. through the opening 21 inthe lower jaw to engage and gradually force or distort the bridge portion 28 of the mature;

the positionillustrated in Figure 7. More specifically in this regard, the pointed end 16 causes thebridge por- 'serveto clamp the terrninalftherebetween a's the pin 5 distorts a portion ofithe, terminal.

is diSPosedop oSite 'therchannel 20 of the lower jaw. v

The channel portionslZii and 23 complement oneanother and serve to receive those portions o'f'the terminal which receive the conductor wire. in order to' facilitate opening'o'f the jaw members the upper jaw'memb'er 6 is preferably provided with an oifset handle 24 {for manipulating the jaw to the position illustrated in Figure i 3 to permit entry of at e rminal. HThe spring 11, constituting the additional resilient means above referred to, serves to normally. maintain the jaws in closed relationship' and retain a 'terminalbetween the jaws before the levers are manipulated. A

. As clearly illustrated in Figures 5 through 8 the te r mh nal ispreferably substantially flat and has an extremity ii ortab which is" formed to provide centrally disposedlongitudinal'corrugation 25 substantially arcuate in crosssection. This corrugation extends outwardly from one side of theftabrbetween'planar longitudinally extending.

7 edge portions 26 and serves to provide'a'seat for thebare rend 27 'of a stranded wire conductor The tab; is also formed' with a bridge portion 2s -which extends out 'war dly'from the tab ina direction opposite to that of the. man anese; The bridge portionis also 5mm cross-section and alsoassisfs i6 pfoyide in combinaoutwardly on the conductor wire:

Attention is also directed to the fact that when the V rninalras described. s V ,Attention is further dirctedrto'the fact mar, the: hi

vi e -1 w 2 serves to receive, engage and cam the free id of the tion to buckle and form a rounded or convex portion 31 which forces strands of the conductor wireinto the opening 29 as clearly, shown in Figure 7 in ordermipravias V a permanent interlock between the ,terminal iand 'As clearly shownin Figure 8, theupper 'surf a'ce-of the rounded portion 31 of the bridge portion serves to more or less spread the strands. of the conductor wire thereon so as to increase the contact area between'thewire: and

terminal and thereby providean efficient electrical coir nection. The terminal and jaw members are so formedx 7 that the pointed endof the projection Lm'eans will -forc the bridge portion of the terminal upwardly to-siich aii- 1 V ace- 0f t portion 31 will be more or'less flattened-into intimate bearing relationship with such portionto runner in'- extent that the strands. of wire on the upper sure a good electrical contact between the wir eandtermrnah, After the connection has been eflected; it necessary to lift up on the upper lever. whereupon the terminal may be readily removed from levers are directed toward one another for the purpose of securing the terminal to the wire, therjaw memberswill be tilted to cause compression of the resilient means 10 until the channel 20 of the lower jaw engages the'sup-' port 4 on opposite sides of the pin 5. V The pointed 'end a of'the pinl actually begins to distort the bridge ofthe terminal before the lower'jaw engages thesupport and since the resilient means is gradually compressed during this action the bridge portion is resiliently. urged 'or 'eased into engagement with the pin for distortioitbr i V a shaping thereby. This setup serves tofplace the jaws in! a desirable position to better accommodatethe terminal, the conductor wire to the terminal and; at the sametime,

allows the metal of thejbridge to new and wo'rk u w rds. into proper relationship with-respect, to the ening-.29:

permanently affixedto the terso that the who will be 'ginal edgeof the circular notch 13,in'the.

bare end of the aws by selling" upper jaw member 6 downwardly when lever 2 is initially moved toward the lower lever 1 and as the levers are brought closer together, the lower marginal edge of the upper lever will be caused to engage the channel 23 as shown in Figure 2. Since the end of the upper lever is received in the notch 13 during such initial movement, a good clamping or wedging action is obtained relatively close to the pivot 3 and at the same time relieves what would otherwise be an excessive thrust that would be placed on the rivet 8 by rearward movement of the jaw member.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of the invention, and, therefore, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts herein shown and described.

I claim:

1. A tool for attaching a terminal to a conductor comprising a pair of levers pivotally connected together, an elongated first member having a jaw, an elongated second member having a jaw cooperable with the jaw of the first member, means for securing the members to one lever for movement with respect to one another between said levers, the other lever being engageable with the second member at a location adjacent the pivotal connection for forcing the jaws together, and a projection disposed between the jaws for distorting a portion of a terminal while it is being clamped between the jaws.

2. A tool for attaching a terminal to a conductor comprising a pair of levers pivotally connected together, an elongated first member having a jaw, an elongated second member having a jaw cooperable with the jaw of the first member, means for securing the members together on one lever for movement with respect to one another between the levers, one of said jaws having an opening therein, and a projection extending from said one lever for entry into the opening and between the members, and the other lever being engageable with the second member at a location adjacent the pivotal connection for forcing the jaws together whereby the projection will distort a portion of a terminal while it is being clamped between the jaws.

3. A tool for attaching a terminal to a conductor comprising a pair of levers pivotally connected together, a support carried by one of the levers, an elongated first member having a jaw, an elongated second member having a jaw cooperable with the jaw of the first member, means for securing the members to the support between the levers for movement with respect to one another and the support, resilient means interposed between and engaging the support and first member, one of the jaws having an opening therein, a projection on said support for entry into the opening, and the other lever being engageable with the second member at a location adjacent the pivotal connection for compressing the resilient means and forcing the jaws together so that the projection will distort a portion of a terminal while it is being clamped between the jaws.

4. A tool for attaching a terminal to a conductor comprising a pair of levers pivotally connected together, a support carried by one of the levers, an elongated first member having a jaw, an elongated second member having a jaw cooperable with the jaw of the first member, means for securing the members together on the support for movement between the levers with respect to one another and the support, resilient means interposed between and engaging the support and first member, resilient means engaging the second member for urging it against the first member, one of the jaws having an opening therein, a projection on the support for entry into the opening, and the other lever being engageable with the second member at a location adjacent the pivotal connection for compressing the first-mentioned resilient means and forcing the jaws together so that the projection will distort a portion of a terminal while it is being .clamped between the jaws.

5. Means for attaching a terminal to a conductor, said means comprising a mounting, a support carried by the mounting, a projection extending from the support, an elongated first member having a jaw provided with an opening for receiving the projection, an elongated second member having a jaw cooperable with the jaw of the first member, means extending through the members and support for securing the members to the mounting for movement with respect to one another and the support, resilient means interposed between and engaging the support and said first member, and means engageable with said second member for compressing the resilient means and forcing the jaws together so that the projection will distort a portion of a terminal while it is being clamped between the jaws.

6. Means for attaching a terminal to a conductor, said means comprising a mounting, a support carried by the mounting, a projection extending from the support, an elongated first member having a jaw provided with an opening for receiving the projection, an elongated second member having a jaw engageable with the jaw of the first member, means for securing the members to the support for relative movement, and means engageable with said second member for forcing the jaws together so that the projection will distort a portion of a terminal while it is being clamped between the jaws.

7. Means for attaching a terminal to a conductor, said means comprising a mounting, a support carried by the mounting, a projection extending from the support, an elongated first member having a jaw provided with an opening for receiving the projection, an elongated second member having a jaw cooperable with the jaw of the first member, means extending through the members and support for securing the members for movement with respect to one another and the support, a spring urging the members together, spacer means and resilient means interposed between and engaging the support'and said first member, and means cooperable with said second member for compressing the resilient means and forcing the jaws together so that the projection will distort a portion of a terminal when clamped between the jaws.

8. Means for attaching a terminal to a conductor, said means comprising an elongated mounting, a projection extending from the mounting at a location between the ends of the mounting, an elongated first member having a jaw provided with an opening for receiving the projection, an elongated second member having a jaw cooperable with the jaw of the first member, means for securing the members to the mounting between its ends for movement with respect to one another, and means cooperable with said second member for forcing the jaws together so that the projection will distort a portion of a terminal when clamped between the jaws.

9. An assembly comprising an elongated support provided with a projection, a pair of elongated jaw members, means extending through the members and support for holding the members and support assembled so that the jaw members may be moved with respect to one another and the support, resilient means and spacer means interposed between one of the jaw members and the support, an opening provided in said one jaw member for receiving said projection so that the latter may deform a terminal placed between the jaw members, a spring secured by said extending means for urging the other jaw member against said one jaw member, and lever means for forcing the jaw members toward one another.

(References on following page) 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGS PATENTS France V June 19, 195 2 

